After his exploits this year he surely deserves his own thread. When I picked him for my CQ team I knew he'd be good but I have just loved the way he has gone after his goals this year. I don't think even he could have imagined being in yellow. Chapeau young man. With Bardet having a tough time at least I can enjoy this fella.

He has a conundrum now though. Does he try to hang onto yellow? Or give away loads of time so that he can go for the KOM jersey instead?

I really like him. He's developing nicely. I wish I'd picked him for my team but I thought he wouldn't get enough opportunities to ride for himself. Guess Giulio doesn't need to get opportunities, he just makes them himself

I can see it being quite an exciting battle between the 2 of them for bonus seconds and maybe even a stage win or 2 over this weekend, with the ultimate prize being to have the tv cameras follow your every move on the BAgneres and possibly even Tourmalet stages.

It is tricky for Ciccone. His team is behind LRP. His usual MO is get in the break and collect mountain points. Now he has the biggest role in cycling unexpectedly. I hope the team help him to defend it for a few stages at least.

After his exploits this year he surely deserves his own thread. When I picked him for my CQ team I knew he'd be good but I have just loved the way he has gone after his goals this year. I don't think even he could have imagined being in yellow. Chapeau young man. With Bardet having a tough time at least I can enjoy this fella.

He has a conundrum now though. Does he try to hang onto yellow? Or give away loads of time so that he can go for the KOM jersey instead?

It is tricky for Ciccone. His team is behind LRP. His usual MO is get in the break and collect mountain points. Now he has the biggest role in cycling unexpectedly. I hope the team help him to defend it for a few stages at least.

After his exploits this year he surely deserves his own thread. When I picked him for my CQ team I knew he'd be good but I have just loved the way he has gone after his goals this year. I don't think even he could have imagined being in yellow. Chapeau young man. With Bardet having a tough time at least I can enjoy this fella.

He has a conundrum now though. Does he try to hang onto yellow? Or give away loads of time so that he can go for the KOM jersey instead?

After his exploits this year he surely deserves his own thread. When I picked him for my CQ team I knew he'd be good but I have just loved the way he has gone after his goals this year. I don't think even he could have imagined being in yellow. Chapeau young man. With Bardet having a tough time at least I can enjoy this fella.

He has a conundrum now though. Does he try to hang onto yellow? Or give away loads of time so that he can go for the KOM jersey instead?

It is tricky for Ciccone. His team is behind LRP. His usual MO is get in the break and collect mountain points. Now he has the biggest role in cycling unexpectedly. I hope the team help him to defend it for a few stages at least.

Would be interesting to see if he just follows wheels to keep ahead of the GC favourites. Seems to be confident in the mountains. His team have a decision to make - either switch support to Ciccone or continue fully supporting Porte. Would like to see the team fully supporting him as I don't think Porte has the legs at the moment,

Let's not forget he's got the Giro in his legs and this is his first season not only riding back to back GTs but even two GTs in one year.

I knew he was something special after his stage win in the 2016 Giro, but I was afraid the heart surgeries he went through could hinder his development.
He's from Chieti, my girlfriend's mother hometown, so that's another reason for me to cheer for him.

Sometimes he gives me the same feelings Michele Scarponi used to give me. A passionate, funny young man who always tries hard. Could be his heir actually.

Nah, he's got to hang on. You don't give up THE jersey voluntarily.
Also essentially he's in France to help Porte, right? The longer he keeps yellow the more opportunity Porte has to do whatever his legs allow him.

Impressive cyclist though for sure, and he seems like a nice guy too. Very easy to support someone like him.

Nah, he's got to hang on. You don't give up THE jersey voluntarily.
Also essentially he's in France to help Porte, right? The longer he keeps yellow the more opportunity Porte has to do whatever his legs allow him.

Impressive cyclist though for sure, and he seems like a nice guy too. Very easy to support someone like him.

He said that he'll try to keep the jersey as long as possible, but that Porte is the captain and the gc rider that he and the team will work for. He seems to have a decent relationship with Porte, they did a training camp in the Sierra Nevada before the Ardennes and one in Isola 2000 before the Tour.
Purito used to be his idol, his favourite active rider is Valverde.

Ciccone will definitely be the most interesting italian rider in this tour. Viviani hit-or-many misses, Nibs will enjoy the ride, Aru...sorry Fabio
My hope is that he will end up having a better career than De Marchi.....hype is difficult to stop once unleashed!

PS: I don't think he's related to Madonna . Madonna's grandparents were from a village called Pacentro (province of L' Aquila) whereas Ciccone is from the city of Chieti (province of Chieti)
The Ciccone surname is pretty equally distributed throughout Abruzzo (202 families overall).